Bernard Labadie (centre), music director of the Violons du Roy and La Chapelle de Québec; is surrounded (L-R) by Christiane Bouillé, general director of Les VdR and LaCdQ; Sandra Côté Guimond and Jessica Cloutier-Couture, co-directors general of Solidarité Familles; and Sophie Gingras, director of communications and marketing of the Palais Montcalm – Maison de la musique. They are looking forward to presenting the Chemin de Noël on the evening of December 23. (Photo courtesy of the Palais Montcalm)

As part of their “Sunday variations” series, Concerts Couperin presented Folklore en écho featuring talented up-and-coming guitarist Anne-Frédérique Gagnon and oboist Emma Ahern on Nov. 30. The musicians seemed a bit “lost” on the vast stage of the Chapelle du Séminaire de Québec, but their talent and brilliant music shone throughout the 90-minute concert. Performing both solo and in duets, Gagnon and Ahern highlighted the works of composers from the 18th century to the present day. From the Middle East to Argentina, via Spain, the music reflected the evolution of a style through the blending of cultures. They also performed an arrangement of the hymn “Nearer My God to Thee” by Sarah Flower Adams, which reportedly was performed by the band aboard the Titanic as it was sinking in the Atlantic Ocean in April 1912. The Titanic exhibit is on display at the Musée de la civilisation until March 8. (Photo by Shirley Nadeau)